Dr. Kochenderfer's research is aimed at developing T-cell therapies for hematogic malignancies and genetic engineering of T cells with genes encoding chimeric antigen receptors that target malignancy-associated antigens. This work has led to two clinical trials in which patients receive infusions of T cells that are genetically engineered to specifically recognize and eliminate cells expressing the CD19 antigen, which is expressed by most B-cell lymphomas and B-cell leukemias. These clinical trials have produced the first evidence that genetically-engineered T cells can eliminate CD19-expressing cells in humans.

Light lunch served

Co-sponsored by the David Geffen School of Medicine Initiative in Immunity, Inflammation, Infection, and Transplantation (I3T), the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the Center for AIDS Research